Washington Post writes on Buhari’s Comments on Dasuki, Kanu, Zakzaky

…Says Nigeria won’t release detainees despite court orders

The influential Washington Post newspaper today published comments by President Muhammadu Buhari in Wednesday media chat on the continued detention of former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and sect Leader of the Shiites Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The newspaper’s report focused on Buhari’s reaction to criticisms of the refusal of government to release Dasuki and Kanu despite court orders for them to be released thereby pooh poohing the President’s claim of being a born again democrat. Below is a reproduction of the story carried by the internationally respected tabloid:

Nigeria’s government will not release two prominent detainees despite several court orders for their release, and will not comment on the situation of a third, wounded detainee, President Muhammadu Buhari saidWednesday.

Buhari, a former military dictator who calls himself a born-again democrat, did not discuss the propriety of defying court orders when he spoke on national TV.

“If you see the atrocities these people committed against this country!” Buhari said in justification. “We can’t allow them to jump bail.”

A Federal High Court set no bail conditions and ordered the unconditional release of Biafra separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu on Dec. 17. Kanu was detainedOct. 17 on charges recently escalated to terrorism and financing terrorism. His cause led to a civil war that killed 1 million people in the 1960s.

Former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki was detained Nov. 4 after intelligence agents surrounded his home for days to prevent him from leaving the country after a court allowed him bail to seek medical care abroad.

Dasuki is accused, among other things, of diverting $2.2 billion meant to buy arms to fight the Boko Haram Islamic uprising. Three courts have ordered his release on bail.

“What of the over two million people displaced, most of them orphans whose fathers have been killed?” Buhari asked. “We cannot allow that.”

He refused to discuss the situation of Shiite leader Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was detained with four bullet wounds Dec. 14 in military raids that allegedly killed hundreds of his followers.

The army said the raids and bulldozing of Zakzaky’s home and Shiite spiritual centers was a response to an alleged Shiite attempt to assassinate Nigeria’s army chief. Human Rights Watch has said the raid was unprovoked.

Authorities have refused to allow anyone to see Zakzaky.